Maersk Alabama

Today we had a real treat! We had to make a trip to the coast to escort a new missionary family to their assignment near Mombasa. We decided since we were at the coast, we would stay a couple of days and get some rest. Jeff got it in his head that we should try to find the sea port to see if, by any chance, we could get a glimpse of the US ship Maersk Alabama that was hijacked by Somalian pirates last week. We wandered around town for a while, into some pretty scary areas, looking for the port. Then we came up on a secured area with guards and police. Jeff was determined to be found trying, so we drove up to the gate. The Kenya Port Authority Police stopped us and Jeff asked him if the US ship Alabama was docked there and if it was could he take a picture. The police asked for our ID. We were pretty sure he was talking about some journalist ID but Jeff handed him his Kenyan resident ID. We parked and went into an office where they gave us permission to walk to the docks! As we walked, Jeff stopped and asked another officer where the Alabama was and would she escort us to the ship. She agreed and walked us about half way there where she turned us over to another officer, who quickly became our friend, Mike. Mike walked us all the way to the ship and let us take all the pictures we wanted.

While Jeff was taking pictures, we saw a film crew there and he asked them if they were doing a news story on the Alabama. They said yes. When he asked who for, they said for NBC and the story would air on the Today show today at 2:00pm. They asked Jeff if he was also doing a story and they were surprised that we had been allowed to come in and take the pictures since he was not. I guess God knew how determined Jeff was and just paved the whole way for us.

As we were headed back out, we were stopped by an officer that was not happy that we did not have an official pass. Fortunately Mike was still with us and he shared that we were missionaries with the Baptist Church and the officer’s attitude changed. Then Jeff began to witness to him, and he asked us many questions about Jesus coming back to earth again. It turned out he was already a believer but apparently had some questions. We left him all smiles. Then Mike walked us all the way to our car talking to us the whole time. It turns out he has worked as a Port Authority Police in that port for 22 years! Before we left him, Jeff asked him if he had prayed to receive Jesus Christ and he assured us that he had, but he also had questions. What started out to be one of Jeff’s crazy ideas, God used to bless us and two Kenyan Police Officers.

Check it out!